Hello, My name is John. I am from Pennsylvania and am a convicted felon many times over. I am 43 years old and was released in May of 2011 from Laurel Highlands State Prison where I completed the 6 month Theraputic Community Program. In the TC we were informed of the many opportunities available to convicted felons that could help them obtain gainful employment. Having been a salesman for most of my life, the reputation that I inherited upon my last conviction for multiple burglaries ruined any chance of my career continuing in my field of expertise. Because of my situation I decided to apply for the federal Pell Grant located at www.fafsa.ed.gov as well as the Pennsylvania state grant which is avail at PHEAA.ORG. I was awarded both, totalling $5500.00 for the Pell and $1248.00 from the state. My tuition and books totalled about $3400.00 per year. Leaving me $3348.00 for expenses not including the federal student loans thnat are available. You can take student loans that are subsidised so they are completely tax free. So say yopu take another 6k in student loans that are interest free, and then get some kind of work off craigslist or maybe sell on eBay. That's what I'm doing and I am keeping an4.0 Gpa so that when I transfer I will get plenty of scholarships that will make obtaining my degree virtually free. See, because you are motivated to do well and are borrowing some money to do it, you most likely will do well. Take 4 classes per semester which should only take you about 12hrs per week, you have more that enough time for study. So go do it! Coming out of prison you have 2 choices; You can do the right thing, and better yourself, or you can mess up and go back to jail, it's your decision. I hope you make the right one.

Wow. The encouraging words are great. I am a felon and I have been out for 2 years and I still can't find a job. The local Dollar Store won't even consider me for employment. I am currently enrolled in college and I have a 4.0 but I still need to be working. My pell grant only covers a small portion of my tuition. My loans are going to eat me up when I graduate. I am doing everything in my power to stay at home and not mess up again. I am a one time offender and plan to try to get my record expunged. What kind of website did you look at to see if your state offered a grant? I need all the help I can get.

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